AGARTALA, July 18 (TIWN): Broad Gauge (BG) conversion work from Badarpur to Agartala is expected to kick off from October this year following which the train services in Tripura would be suspended until the conversion works end, said official source. As per the earlier proposal, during the first phase, mega block work would start in this route and later after the completion, the BG conversion would start. In the recent past the meter gauge rail line from Lumding to Shilchar via Badarpur was converted to broad gauge. The official informed that despite the BG conversion work had ended from Lumding to Shilchar the train service could not be started because of some minor problems in the rail track. The train service from Lumding to Shilchar would start soon, official said. The official said a total of 227 km stretch meter gauge till Agartala would be converted into broad gauge. “Recently the equipments and other machineries had already started arriving here in Agartala with the railway officials, engineers and others are preparing to kick off the BG conversion work from Badarpur to Agartala from October this year.” The official confirmed that the construction work of broad gauge platform had already started at the middle of Badarpur site and also in some parts of Agartala towards Badarpur. Adding to that the official said that like Mumbai, Chennai and Howrah, the Agartala rail station would also have second entry point along with the existing one.

He also said that from Kumarghat to Agartala route at least 30 over bridges above the rail line would be constructed to give a shape of BG platforms.

However, the BG conversion work from Badarpur to Agartala would be taken up in two phases.

During the first phase the BG conversion work would start from Badarpur to Kumarghat stretching about 118 km, whereas the second phase work would start from Kumarghat to Agartala stretching about 109 km, official said.  

A total of 227 km of meter gauge would be converted into broad gauge from Badarour to Agartala.

The official also said that the entire BG conversion work upto Agartala is expected to be completed by March 31, 2016.

Adding, he said the train service would remain suspended from October 1 until the conversion is ended. The service will remain suspended during the construction work and laying BG tracks replacing the meter gauge.

However, once the BG conversion work is ended successfully, people can travel to any other parts of the country from Agartala. Besides, Agartala station is all set to receive a bee storming gathering of passengers following which another entry point would be constructed here in Agartala.

The second entry point would also have same facilities of ticket counter, sanitation, rest house and others which the existing rail station has.